FILM & TV LOCATIONS IN EAST ANGLIA

Jan 94 min read

There's nothing much better than cosying up in front of a film on a cold winter's night. It always makes you feel a bit of a movie buff when you recognise an actor or spot a familiar location, though, so why not suggest watching one of these films or television series when you're next in our region? Just be sure to look out for some of the iconic locations.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Angel Hill

Five minutes from The Weeping Willow, Bury St Edmunds is home to historic buildings, quaint streets and the picturesque square in front of it's abbey, Angel Hill. Be sure to visit for some independent shopping and look out for recognisable areas of Angel Hill featured on the 2019 adaptation of The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Lavenham

Lavenham has been named one of the UK's prettiest villages for years, so it's no surprise that one of the hundreds of listed cottages has made its way into a major film. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is the first in the franchise to show the exterior of Harry's childhood home, Godric's Cottage, and this is a combination of CGI and one of Lavenham's timber-framed buildings.

It's a short drive from The Black Lion, so take yourself for an afternoon exploration and pop in for a pint and bar snacks afterwards.

The Dig

Sutton Hoo

In 2021, the Netflix film, The Dig, came out and gripped the region of Suffolk, where it is set. Not only were we impressed with Ralph Fiennes convincing accent, but it reignited the importance of Sutton Hoo's legendary burial ground. As someone who lives in the village where Basil Brown (played by Ralph Fiennes) lived, it becomes even more touching to realise that he travelled by bike thirty-one miles every day to the excavation - and back again!

Yesterday

Shingle Street, Gorleston-on-Sea and Halesworth

Written by the great Richard Curtis, Yesterday sees a struggling musician, Jack, have a freak accident which causes the world to forget The Beatles. He is the only one to remember them. It is farfetched and feel-good, plus features Ed Sheeran and many locations around the Suffolk coast. We recommend popping to the market town of Halesworth to see some of the filming locations before heading to The Ship for a spot of lunch and a beach walk.

Dad's Army

Thetford and The Brecks

One of the most well-known British comedies of the 70's, Dad's Army was written and produced around Norfolk. Many of the 'training' scenes and villages are located around Thetford and The Brecks.

Naturally, because of the locality of many airbases in East Anglia, there are a lot of films and television series either based on the area or filmed here in relation to military history. One of the most recent is Masters of The Air, which is an adaptation of Donald L. Miller’s non-fiction book, Masters of the Air, which tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group, based at Thorpe Abbots in Norfolk. To find out more about the military history of East Anglia, click here.

The Theory of Everything and The King's Speech

Ely Cathedral

Half an hour drive from The Three Blackbirds, Ely Cathedral is the dramatic backdrop to many musical and religious events, but has also stepped-in as a lookalike for Westminster Abbey in a couple of portrayals; The King's Speech and The Crown. Its Romanesque architecture was also used as a location in The Theory of Everything.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia

One of the more surprising film locations is that of the Sainsbury Centre, a modern art museum and learning centre on the site of the University of East Anglia. This large glass and steel structure with embedded lower-ground floor is the Avengers HQ in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Stardust and Monty Python's And Now For Something Completely Different

Elm Hill

Elm Hill in Norwich's cathedral quarter is a picturesque cobbled street with independent shops and galleries. It has played host to not one filming location, but multiple! The Briton's Arms was transformed - with a spot of thatched roofing - into Stardust's, The Slaughtered Prince. It has also appeared in Monty Python’s And Now For Something Completely Different and an episode of Lovejoy.

Shakespeare in Love

Holkham Beach

Holkham Beach is one of the sandiest and most-visited beaches in North Norfolk at over two miles long. Not only was it featured in the music video for All Saints Pure Shores, it has also hosted many memorable films from the late seventies until now; The Eagle Has Landed (1976), Shakespeare in Love (1999) and Deadpool and Wolverine (2025) are just a few of them.

Dad's Army

Weybourne Railway Station

Perhaps best known as Walmington-on-Sea in the classic Dad’s Army episode The Royal Train, Weybourne Railway Station is in Love on a Branch Line, A Warning To the Curious and The Lost Prince. It's located less than a mile from The Maltings, so be sure to see whether they have any events on if you're staying.

Ludwig

Cambridge

Newly released, Ludwig is a frequent point of conversation amongst our team at the moment, especially discussing all the recognisable locations around Cambridge. Why not create your own tour of the historic city based on some of John 'Ludwig' Taylor scenes?

The Carpenter's Arms is a short drive out of the city, so fuel up with a Sunday roast afterwards.

The Crown

Audley End

Just down the road from The Eight Bells, Saffron Walden, the Great Hall and Library of Audley End House and Garden was used frequently in the filming of The Crown. From Balmoral to Eton College, each room has been adapted to portray another location.